Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program - Open Pool

Scarborough Health Network Research Institute (SHNRI) is proposing to foster a community centered café to engage clinical researchers and community members as a way to encourage collaboration and reduce health barriers to participation in research specific to the people of Scarborough. Scarborough is one of the most diverse multicultural communities in Canada and is home to over 25% of Toronto's population with 73% being visible minorities, 1.7% Indigenous, 59% new Canadians and 20% low income. Scarborough is home to ethnic & cultural communities prone to some of the highest rates of critical chronic diseases, (such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure) and is severely underrepresented in health research. SHN is located in the core of Scarborough, responsible for the care of this community that has unique needs. The Cafe will be held over a half day at an accessible venue in hybrid format. The café structure will consist of 3 sessions composed of a presentation for knowledge translation that will utilize polling, followed by moderated panel discussions using breakout rooms/groups to allow for interactive engagement with the aim of identifying possible solutions and implementation strategies to research participation barriers. Translation for all materials (pre/promotional, during, post-results dissemination) will be provided in top spoken languages (i.e. Tamil, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi). Translators and a sign-language interpreter will be available. The event will be promoted at 32 community organizations. Surveys will be conducted to: (i) obtain socio-demographic and socio-economic data, (ii) understand perceptions of research (baseline and after cafe), (iii) identify wants to enhance research participation. They will be distributed in the preferred language of the participant. Qualitative data will be collected throughout the event. Results will be disseminated in plain and technical language reports.